Machine for folding and interfolding single or superposed sheets.



PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

S. WHEELER. MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND INTERFOLDING SINGLE 0R SUPEEPOSED SHEETS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 12, 1904.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1 N0 MODEL.

LV/ T NE SSE S PATENTED DEC. 20, 19 04.

s. WHEELER. v MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND INTERPOLDING SINGLE 0R SUPERPOSED SHEETS! APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHLET 2.

N0 MODEL.

N VE N T 0 I I Attonuy w/WJTNESSE 71 PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

S. WHEELER.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND INTERFOLDING SINGLE OR SUPEEPOSED SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

IIII'II PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

s. WEEELEE. MACHINE EOE FOLDING AND INTERPOLDING SINGLE OR SUPERPOSED SHEETS.

APPLEGATION FILED MAR. 12, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H0 MODEL.

U 1 0 t A UNITED STATES Patented December 20, 1904.

SETH WHEELER, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

i MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND INTERFOLDING SINGLE OR SUPERPOSED SHEETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,761, dated December 20, 1904. Application filed March 12, 1904. Serial No. 197,857.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SETH WHEELER, a resident of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Folding and Interfolding Single or Superposed Sheets; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a machine for folding and interfolding paper sheets, the objects of the invention being to provide a machine for folding one or two or more superposed sheets into sections or books of three or more leaves and interfolding the terminal leaves of each section with the succeeding section in such manner that the withdrawal of one section from a cabinet containing a package of assembled sections will leave the terminal leaf or leaves of the succeeding section exposed.

A further object is to provide mechanism for cutting the paper in proper lengths and so time such mechanism that the incoming sheet or sheets will be received in the partially-folded end leaf of the preceding section and retained in the completed fold.

Heretofore in the manufacture of interfolded sheets forming packages such as contemplated by my improved machine the folding has been done by hand labor upon narrow tables of sufficient width and length to receive a sheet of paper whose width equaled the length of the sheets of the package to be formed and the length of the table sufiicient to support a sheet equal to the width of several sheets of the package to be formed. The workers seated upon both sides of this table fold and interfold a limited number of the long sheets, which are subsequently out transversely into the proper width for the packages and then assembled to form packages of the desired number of sheets. On account of the unstable character of a pile of such sheets the number that may be folded for the transverse. cutting is limited, which, as stated, involves the subsequent assembling of a number of small sections or parts of packages to form a package of commercial size. Another objection to this method of manufacture is that the fiber of the sheets of the completed package is transverse of the length of the sheet, and in drawing such a sheet of tissue-paper from the receptacle it is not infrequently torn and the remaining portion left out of reach in the receptacle The most serious objection, however, to the method of manufacture described is its cost, on account of which the packages must be sold at a price much in excess of the usual package. Consequently there is little demand for probably the most economical and compact package of toilet-paper ever devised. My machine for the manufacture of this paper is entirely automatic, taking the paper from a roll, (or, if preferred, from a pile of sheets,) cut to any desired length, folded and interfolded, and delivered into a receptacle or trunk continuously, from which any number may be quickly removed to form packages of any desired number of sheets without stopping or in any way interfering with the operation of the machine, a single operator only being required to attend a number of machines.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the folding mechanism proper. Fig. 4 is a View at right angles to Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 3, showing the folding mechanisms in their different positions; and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are views illustrating details of construction.

1 represents a base-frame, and 2 a top frame secured thereon and supporting my improve ments, and said base-frame l is provided with laterally-projecting brackets 3, supporting the main supply-roll 4.

Supported in suitable bearings in frame 1 is a drive-shaft 5, having on its outer end suitable operating-pulleys 6 and has a beveled gear 7 secured on its opposite end, meshing with a similar gear 8 on a vertical shaft 9, having apinion 10 on its upper end transmitting motion to a chain of gearing 11 for driving paper-feeding rolls 12, 13, and 14, supported in a frame 15 removably secured in one corner of frame 2 and which may be removed and be replaced by other forms of feeding mechanism for instance, additional rolls for superposed sheets or such as would feed cut sheets from a pile. At the rear of frame 15 depending arms 16 support a guiderollcr17, below which the paper passes before going over feed-roll14. Thence the paper travels between rolls 14 and 13 around the latter and'thence over roll 12, it being guided thereon by a roller 12, supported in forked arms and resting on roller 12 when not separated therefrom by paper passing between them. From the roll 12 the paper passes into a guide or chute 18, which may be open or closed, the lower portion being bent or offset slightly, as shown at 19, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Between the feed-rolls and the entrance to chute 18 the paper is cut by cutting mechanism comprising a fixed member 20 (having an adjustable cutter 21) and a movable member 22, supported on a rock-shaft 23. The rock-shaft is provided with an arm 25, so disposed as to be operated by a cam 24 on shaft 9 to rock the shaft 23 and swing the cutterarm 22 in the are of a circle. As the knife carried by the arm 22 moves in the arc of a circle across the path of the paper passing from the feed-rolls to the chute 18 it will cooperate with the fixed member 20 of the cutter and by a shearing action sever the paper. Opposite the lower end of chute 18 a channel or receptacle 26 for the folded sheets is located and is provided on top and bottom with slotted lugs 27, adapted to be secured to slotted bars 28 by screws 29 and adjusted by means of the slots to receive folded sheets of any desired size and to exactly position the channel or receptacle, a portion of which latter may be left open to permit sections of the folded sheets being removed from time to time for the formation of the finished package.

A friction-block 30 is located in the channel or receptacle 26, against which the first fold is made and serves to maintain the sheets in proper folded formation, advancing in the channel or receptacle. The block 30 comprises two sections, having a spring 31 between them to hold the sections in frictional contact with the channel or receptacle, sufficiently resisting the advance of the folded sheets to maintain them in close formation.

On drive-shaft 5 a beveled pinion 31 is fixed and meshes with a similar pinion 32 on a short shaft 33, supported in a bearing 34 and having secured on its inner end adisk 35, having a crank-pin 36 on its face, located in an elongated slot 37, formed in a cross-head 38, secured to parallel rods 39, which latter are mounted in guide-sleeves and reciprocated vertically by the crank-pin 36 in the slot 37 of cross-head 38 when the shaft 33 and disk 35 turn, as will be readily understood. The crank-pin 36 is adjusted in an elongated slot in disk 35 by a set-screw 43 to regulate the stroke of the rods and the distance of movement of the folders for sheets of different sizes.

Mounted loosely on rods 39 are folder-carrying slides 41 and 42, arranged in pairs, slides 41 being above slides 42, and the parts carried thereby being reversed in position, yet exactly alike in construction and operation. Each pair of slides is connected by a bar 44, carrying a folding-blade 45 and having trunnions 46 at both ends supported in bosses 47 on the slides, and coiled springs 49 are provided, engaging said trunnions and tending to maintain the folding-blades 45 at an angle for a purpose which will more fully hereinafter appear.

To the bars 44 at both ends arms 50 are secured and have secured in their free ends studs 51, projecting at right angles thereto and engaging the flat edge of guide-brackets 52, secured to the frame and having elongated slots 53 therein to receive clamping-bolts 54, also passed through slots 55 in guide-arms 56, which latter project beyond the flat guiding edge of the brackets 52 and are engaged by the studs 51 when in one extreme position, compelling the folding-blades to assume a vertical position parallel to the folded sheets.

Located centrally of frame 2 is a double hook 57 pivoted between its ends and provided with a coiled spring 58, pressing against the center of said double hook and adapted to exert pressure to force either end of the hook forward, according to the movement of the latter to dispose the spring-pressure at one side of the center of the double hook, and a forwardly-projecting arm 59 is provided at the center of the double hook and adapted to be engaged by the slides to shift the position of the hooks.

The slides 41 and 42 are provided with studs 60, projecting through elongated vertical slots 61 in guide-bars 62 and enter slots 63 in the ends of levers 64, pivoted between their ends, as shown, and connected at their outer ends by coiled springs 65.

Secured on rods 39 and properly spaced apart are collars 66, carrying cylindrical airchambers 67, adapted to receive cylindrical plungers 68 on slides 41 and 42, and provided in their ends with contracted air-outlets 69, compelling slow escape of air, and consequently cushioning the contact of the collars 66 with the slides.

The operation of my improvements above described is as follow: Paper from supplyroll 4 is fed over feed-rollers 14, 13, and 12 and directed into chute 18, and when the proper length of paper is in chute 18 the movable cutter member 22 will be swung to sever the sheet against fixed cutter member 20. In the meantime the upward movement of rods 39 causes lower collars 66 to engage lower slides42 and move the same upward. When the lower slides 42 are in their lowest position, their blade 45 will be held at an incline by springs 49, permitting the blade to take behind the incoming sheet, and as said blade moves upward it is guided by brackets 52, against which studs 51 of arms 50, fixed to the bars 44, carrying the blade 45, bear, and said blade is maintained in this inclined position until it reaches its highest position, when the.

studs 51 will strike guide-arms 56 on brackets 52 and be forced to a vertical position, pressing the folded flap of the sheet against the friction-block 30 in channel or receptacle 26. When in this position, the lower hook of double hook 57 will spring below lower slide 41 and hold it in this elevated position, when the parts will be in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5. The rods 39 having reached the extreme of their upstroke will begin their downstroke, and upper collars 66 will engage upper slides 41 and move the same downward, the operation of the upper blade being precisely like that of the lower blade, pressing the next flap of the folded sheet against the lower blade until the upper slides 41 engage arm 59 of double hook 57, compelling the release of lower slides 42 and the locking of the upper slides. The springs being then distended will through the medium of levers 64 draw the lower blade from the folded paper and move the lower slides and blade to their lowest position. The end of the paper sheet will then fall into the offset portion 19 of chute 18, permitting the end of the next sheet to move across the same down to the fold of the preceding sheet, whenthe parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 6. The next upstroke of the lower blade 45 will interfold the first flap of the second sheet between the last and adjacent flaps of the first sheet, and the operation above described is repeated indefinitely, sections of the folded sheets being removed from time to time from the channel or receptacle 26.

It will be seen that my improvements are capable of various adjustments to fold sheets .of various sizes and the size of the several flaps of the folded sheets can be quickly adjusted by varying the distances of crank-pin 36 from the center of disk 35, and thereby adjust the length of stroke of the folder-blades 45. WVhile I have shown a machine with a longitudinal receptacle for the folded sheets and vertically-moving folders, it is obvious this arrangement may be reversed or otherwise departed from so long as the relative positions of the parts mentioned is maintained.

Instead of folding single sheets multiples of two or more superposed sheets may be interfolded, and a great many changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myselfto the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding-machine, the combination of means operating to fold sheets, or units of two or more sheets into sections or books of three or more leaves and devices cooperating with said folding means to interfold the end leaves and form a package of continuously-interfolded sheets substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a folding-machine, the combination of means operating to fold sheets or units of two or more sheets into books of three or more leaves, devices cooperating with said means to interfold the terminal leaves or units of each book with the first leaves or units of the succeeding book substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3/ In a folding-machine, means for feeding sheets or units of two or more sheets, and means for folding said sheets or units into books of three or more leaves interfolded as described in combination with a receptacle, and means for delivering the books into the receptacle.

4. In a folding-machine, the combination with a receptacle of means for feedinga strip or strips, means for cutting the same into proper lengths, and means for folding said sheets int-o books of three or more leaves, interfolding the adjacent end leaves thereof and depositing the same in a receptacle.

5. In a folding-machine, the combination with a receptacle of means for feeding sheets or units of two or more sheets, alternatelymoving swinging blades adapted to fold the sheets or units into interfolded books of three or more leaves and means for pressing theinterfolded books into the receptacle.

6. In a folding-machine, the combination with a receptacle of means for properly timing the feed of sheets or units, oppositely-moving swinging folders at the entrance of the receptacle, means for moving the folders to fold the sheets or units into interfolded books of three or more leaves and means for swinging them at the termination of each folding movement to press the book into the receptacle.

7. In a folding-machine, the combination with means for feeding a web or webs of paper, of cutting mechanism to sever the same into sheets of proper length, and means for folding such sheets into books of three or more leaves, their terminals interfolded and assembled in packages of any desired number of books.

as fairly fall within the spirit &

8. In a folding-machine, the combination of alternately-moving folding-blades, means for directing a sheet between the blades, and means for separately moving-the blades to fold the sheets into interfolded books of three or more leaves.

9. In a folding-machine, the combination with a receptacle, and means for directing a sheet or sheets toward said receptacle of folder-blades oppositely located at the entrance to the receptacle, means for alternately moving said blades to fold the sheets into interfolded books of three or more leaves, and means for swinging them longitudinally to the receptacle to press the folded sheets therein.

10. In a folding-machine, the combination with a channel or receptacle, of reciprocating rods, slides thereon, folder-blades carried by the slides, and abutments on the rods to engage said slides and move the blades across the entrance to said channel or receptacle.

11. In a foldingmachine, the combination with a channel or receptacle, of reciprocating rods, slides thereon, folder-blades carried by the slides across the entrance to the channel until released on the other assuming such position.

12. In a folding-machine, the combination with a channel or receptacle, of reciprocating rods, slides thereon, folder-blades carried by the slides, abutments on the rods to engage the slides and move the blades across the entrance to the channel, a double hook adapted to engage a slide and hold a blade in such position across the entrance to the channel, and an arm on the double hook to be engaged by the movement of the other pair of slides when the other blade is moved across the channel, releasing the first-mentioned blade and locking the second.

13. In a folding-machine, the combination with a channel or receptacle, of reciprocating rods, slides thereon, folder-blades carried by the slides, abutments on the rods to engage the slides and move the blades across the entrance to the channel, a double hook adapted to lock a blade in such position, an arm on the double hook engaged by one of the slides when a blade moves to a position across the entrance to the channel compelling the release of the first blade and the locking of the second, and a spring to return the released folder to its extreme position.

14. In a folding-machine, the combination with a channel or receptacle, of reciprocating rods, a slotted cross-head connecting the rods, a rotary disk, means for turning the same, a crank-pin projecting into the slot of the crosshead, means for adjustably securing said pin at varying distances from the center of the disk to vary the stroke of the rods, and folding means controlled by said rods.

15. In a folding-machine, the combination with a channel or receptacle, of vertical reciprocating rods, slides thereon, cross-bars pivoted at their ends to the slides, folder-blades secured to the bars, arms secured to the bars carrying studs at their free ends, guide-brackets, springs to hold the blades inclined and the studs against the guide-brackets during the greater movement of the blades, and guidearms ad justably secured to the guide-brackets and in the path of the studs, to compel the blades to assume a position at the extreme of their movement parallel with the folded sheets.

16. In a folding-machine, the combination with a channel or receptacle, of slides on both sides of the entrance to the channel or receptacle, blades carried by the slides, studs on the slides, levers pivoted between their ends and slotted at one end to receive the studs, a spring connecting the other ends of the levers, a double hook adapted to look a blade across the entrance to the channel. or receptacle, and an arm on said double hook to be engaged by the other folding mechanism to release the first and permit the lever-spring to return it to its other extreme position, at the same time compelling the double hook to lock the second blade across the entrance to the channel or receptacle.

17. In a folding-machine, the combination with a channel or receptacle, of a guide to direct sheets or units to the receptacle oppositely-moving folder-blades between the guide and receptacle to fold the sheets or units and force them into the channel, and an offset in the guide permitting the forward end of a succeeding sheet or unit to lap and be interfolded with the last flap of the preceding sheet or unit.

18. In a folding-machine, the combination with a channel or receptacle, of reciprocating rods, slides on said rods, folder-blades carried by the slides, collars secured on the rods and spaced the proper distance apart, serving as abutments to alternately move the blades across the entrance to the channel or receptacle, and air-chambers having contracted airoutlets adapted to receive plungers on the slides and cushion the contact of the collars therewith.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SETH WHEELER. Witnesses:

EDGAR WHEELER, I WM. A. NHEELER. 

